SAT Dates 2026–27: Next SAT and Deadlines

Planning when to sit the SAT is half the battle — it decides how much preparation time you have and whether you can retake to superscore. Here is the full schedule, the deadlines that matter, and how to choose. (Dates are published by College Board and can change; always confirm on their site before registering.)

December 2026 SAT: date, deadline and scores

If you are starting preparation now, the December sitting comes too soon for most students. A first SAT in March 2027 leaves 8 to 12 weeks to prepare, with May and June as retake options.

All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET (US). Late registration is available worldwide after the regular deadline for an additional fee.

SAT schedule 2027 at a glance

2027–28 SAT test dates (anticipated)

College Board has published anticipated dates for the 2027–28 school year. Registration deadlines for these sittings have not been released yet — on the current pattern they fall about two weeks before each test date.

These are anticipated dates published by College Board and may shift. Confirm on their site before building a plan around them.

Are international and US dates the same?

Yes. With the move to the Digital SAT, the weekend test dates above now apply to both US and international students — the historical gap between domestic and overseas schedules has closed. The main difference is the fee: international test centres add a surcharge (see below). For more, see the SAT for international students.

Registration deadlines and fees

The regular deadline falls about two weeks before each test and gives the widest choice of test centres. After it, a short late-registration window stays open until about 11 days before, for an extra fee. The base SAT fee is $68; outside the US a $43 international fee brings it to $111. Register early — popular centres fill up. The step-by-step is in how to register for the Digital SAT.

When are scores released?

College Board releases most weekend scores two to four weeks after test day; student release dates are 18 December 2026 for the 5 December sitting, then 19 March, 14 May and 21 June 2027 for the March, May and June sittings. Scores appear viewable in your College Board account, with scores then sent on to the universities you have chosen. Build that gap into any plan tied to an application deadline (College Board score release dates).

Which date should you choose?

Work backwards from your application deadlines, and deliberately leave room for a retake so you can superscore. Most students take the SAT in the spring or autumn of their penultimate school year, sit it again a few months later, and target their weaker section the second time. The full logic is in when to take the SAT, how many times to take it and how long to study.

What if you miss the registration deadline?

After the regular deadline, a short late-registration window stays open for an additional $38 fee, with fewer centres available. Separately, the deadline to change or cancel a booking falls about 11 days before the test — for example 23 February for the 6 March 2027 sitting. Changing your test centre or cancelling costs $34. Miss that too and you would normally register for the next sitting instead. Because popular test centres — especially international ones — fill up early, the safest approach is to register as soon as you have chosen your date rather than waiting for the deadline.

Spring or autumn: choosing your window

Most students sit the SAT in either the spring (March to June) or the autumn (August to December) of their penultimate school year. A spring sitting leaves the summer free to improve and retake in the autumn; an autumn sitting suits students who used the summer to prepare and want results ready for early applications. Either way, plan two sittings if you can, so superscoring can work in your favour.

Line your date up with application deadlines

Choose a test date by counting backwards from where the score needs to land. For early applications (often due in October or November), a sitting in the summer or early autumn gives time for scores to arrive and for one retake; for regular deadlines (often January), an autumn date works well. Remember the two- to four-week score-release gap, and that universities receive scores a little after you do. Leaving a buffer means a single off day never costs you the application.

More SAT prep: when to take the SAT, how to register, SAT superscoring, how long to study and Bluebook practice. Tutoring: Digital SAT tutoring.

Official source: College Board — SAT dates and deadlines. Always confirm current dates and deadlines there before registering.

Where are you sitting the SAT?

Test-centre availability, local timing and fees differ by country, and so does the preparation timetable that fits around your school year. Our Digital SAT pages set out how it works where you are:

UAE  ·  Saudi Arabia  ·  Qatar  ·  Kuwait  ·  Oman  ·  Bahrain  ·  Singapore  ·  Malaysia  ·  UK  ·  USA  ·  Canada  ·  Europe

For the programme itself — 1-on-1 and small-group options, plan lengths and what a diagnostic covers — see Digital SAT tutoring.

Frequently Asked Questions